Decision making Essay

The time taken by the organization in making decision is quite varied and cannot be correctly determined as the nature of the problem and other variables that can never be determined nor controlled easily have a great bearing on the total time (Curan & Mitchell, 2001). The nature of the organization and the kind of decision to be made also have a bearing on the time taken. It time critical decision making the aspects of time is important and the challenge thus lies in coming up with sound decision within limited time (Curan & Mitchell, 2001). Most theories adopted in decision making leave out the time taken in selection of actions which is often considerable in organizations where the decisions are viewed differently by constituent members (Curan & Mitchell, 2001). Coming up with a solution that are made without consideration of a well carried out problem solving session could lead to solutions that lack in operational significance, thus any decision making should be aimed at finding the solution that is either associated with the least cost or most returns of the total costs (Curan & Mitchell, 2001). In coming up with the cost, organizations must include the cost and effort taken in thinking and coming up with a plan or a policy in determination of the time taken in decision making. The problem with time considerations is that complex problems may hinder the development of best solutions (Spezzano & Mertens, 1999). In some instances, coming up with the best solutions could be within organizations grasp but the cost associated with such may not be acceptable to the organization. The organizational structure plays a great role in the speed of the decision making process (Spezzano & Mertens, 1999). A structure whereby all members of the organization have to be involved is time consuming (Kaplinsky, 2007). Such an approach is inclusive and the decisions made from this approach are more likely to meet both the needs and wants of the organization. The implementation of such policies is often smooth as those charged with the responsibility of carrying out the policies are well aware of the good and thus have the motivation required for the implementation. The tread off in this approach is the time taken; the approach requires organization wide consultation and is time intensive. Getting the opinion of each and everyone in a medium or large organization and coming upon with a decision based on their varied views can be demanding on an organization’s financial resources and time. Most organizations have adopted a mechanism where the executives and top managers exclusively take part in the formulation of the policies. Such an approach is time conscious and often leads to timely formulation of policies. Despite this, the relevance of the policies to the needs of the organization is brought into question as the people charged with the responsibility of implementation are not included in the formulation. Policies implemented through this mechanism often address what the organization wants rather than what it needs since organizations are best known by the people charged with the duty of policy implementation. Deciding on the correct approach is thus complicated as both time and relevance of decisions are very important, moreover, company heads have in a number of occasions made decisions that have turned out to be for the good of organizations without necessarily involving everyone, this complicates the issue even further. Therefore, organizations have to consider all the factors inherent of their organization that affect the decision making effort and thus the cost of decision making associated with each approach before deciding on whether to buy or build Automated office systems support.

A notation should be directed to a large extent towards the people who read it, rather than towards the sounds they will make

The endeavours of some Experimentalist composers in the 1950s and 1960s, including Cornelius Cardew and John Cage (parenthetically, Cage's own quote, ‘Let the notations refer to what is to be done, not what is to be heard'1 , has resonances with the title quote) were a purposeful reaction to the determinacy of the Serialists. However, the notions of integral serialism and indeterminacy shared common elements in some eyes: There is really no basic difference between the results of automatism and the products of chance; total determinacy comes to be identical with total indeterminacy†¦. 2 The way a piece is notated allows us to come closer to understanding ‘the musical culture within which [notations] operate, and of the ways in which our modes of thought are influenced by the nature of the systems we use'3. This relates to the societal view that the composer is the one who has something to say, reducing the status of the performer to that of interpreter. However, this is not a view that has always existed; composers such as Mozart and Beethoven often expected performers of their works (including themselves, to which I shall return) to create improvised cadenzas for their concerti, while, additionally, the accompaniments were improvised to an extent. Reducing this to a basic level, is it simply the case that, harmonically and stylistically, it was not as difficult to do this in Mozart's time? We no longer have a tradition, or such a tonal system embodying a guiding code, to respect in this way, which has contributed to the prioritising of the composer, and the score. Through our traditional respect for the written word, one expects to perform music as it is written, which itself has consequences: ‘†¦ it is our veneration for the urtext that leads us to the attitude that ‘whatever is not in the score must be wrong'. â€Å"4 The movement towards greater notational detail in the score in the 1950s and 1960s, along with the aforementioned elevated view of composer as ‘master' brought performers to a situation where â€Å"interpretation† became subjugated by â€Å"execution†. Attempts to exert compositional control over every element of a work -that is not only time-space relationships but forms of attack, articulation, dynamic shading i. e. those elements traditionally left to the musical intelligence of the player – do posses a certain futility. In every case which involves human input, something is left to the performer. They do not have to be aware of the extent that their unconscious ‘decisions' influence a piece, which include the elements of performance out of the possible control of the composer, for example a player's personal style, method of playing their instrument, conception of dynamic level. Players still take latitude, however determinate the notation. Their personal mannerisms and inflections will inevitably influence the end result. When viewed in this way, such precision on the part of the composer becomes almost meaningless, except in cases where the end result being an approximation is intentionally part of the composer's aesthetic. It arises that performers must be cautious of the primacy of the score, handling it (and the composer) with ‘kid gloves'. It leads to narrow scope for, and range of, interpretation â€Å"†¦ a state in which the interaction of compulsive exactitude and permissive freedom could result in simultaneous attitudes of carelessness towards the controlled elements and a confined and repetitious response to spontaneity in playing†5. Freeing oneself from the page became an important part of the experimental aesthetic. Conscientious performers feel a responsibility to the composer, and to their own integrity. Over-complexity in notation leads to problems with the realisation of the composer's intentions when directives are inevitably contravened through necessity. However, a performer would really have to be familiar with a composer's aesthetic to know that this otherwise unacceptable act is part of the piece's implicit significance. So, in a piece of huge complexity, notated or otherwise, a player who makes the ‘act of commitment'6 to study and attempt to decipher it, is likely to have a legitimate interest in actually performing the piece. One element which appears to permeate much of Cardew's output is a re-evaluation of the role between composer and performer. Cardew attached as much importance to the workings within the implementation of performance as the end-result in sound. His wish was to challenge accepted ways of thinking about, and making, music, which led to a notation which was action-oriented, inclusive and descriptive, not prescriptive. As suggested by the above quote, ‘†¦ he sound [becomes] a by-product of the activity, which is therefore specified exactly, while the sound may be left to look after itself. ‘ 7 Cardew writes of ‘a notation', as in ‘there are many notational possibilities'. How, though, can a notation really capture every conceivable piece of information about a piece? Obviously, ‘conventional' notation, that is notation which covers time-pitch relationships, is not flexible enough to relate extended compositional requirements. â€Å"†¦ The whole process depends on the choice of a suitable notation to serve as a link between A [composer] and B [performer]; one which will both express what needs to be expressed and allow information to flow smoothly between the two. â€Å"8 Even so, composers are less concerned with the relationship of the score to the performer, and consequently the sounds (A to C via B), than to their own concerns with sounds, without due consideration for the act of performing these sounds (A to C). Cardew suggests that a composer could work on their notation with the way a performer will interpret the signs in mind, thus ‘making the sounds' you wanted as a composer. Transcribing one's ideas in such a manner as to enable the performer to comprehend your directives, and even involve the player in decision-making, is a performance-perspective oriented view, having the added benefit of lending greater objectivity to the compositional task. ‘†¦ A paradigm that grew up in the early twentieth century†¦ aw the composer as some kind of absolute genius capable of imagining a perfect performance of a piece'9 The ‘tendency towards greater explicitness'10, which this comment infers, is part of a paradigm of composition far removed from the way composition was historically defined. Yet, the morphology of every new notation, and the consequential absence of a ‘norm of common notational practice', meant that immediate recognition of a composer's intentions became impracticable. 11 One underlying issue to be addressed in greater depth is that of the relationship between composer and performer. Hugo Cole states that ‘notation evolved to meet felt but inarticulate needs'12 When new methods of notation are devised in response to the need to articulate a newly developed style of composition, composers move the hypothetical goalposts further away again from the performer, as they have to once again learn the new language, interpret again the new signs and work out what the piece (or the composer) is trying to ‘say'. This applies in equal measure to determinate music and experimental, though the degree of freedom lent to the performer in the latter case deems it in many ways a more satisfying task. It somehow restores the performer's role as musically intelligent interpreter, relied upon to add the nuances and subtleties that (traditional) notation cannot accommodate. The rigidity of a notation must have relevance to the playing situation. To provide contrasting examples; the notations in many works by Brian Ferneyhough are complex attempts to notate those aspects of music which would otherwise be added -unconsciously or consciously-by the performer. This style of notation does not have the effect of reducing the burden on the performer, but adds to the already substantial amount of information the performer has to transmute into sound. In music of the New Complexity: performer is subjugated and manipulated, concluding that his efforts are of secondary importance. The act of writing, the systems and the notation take on more importance than the music it is there to serve†¦ '13Yet, Ferneyhough's scores are more than mere receptacles for ‘performance directions', they are inextricably linked to the composer's ideology. Their complexity is wildly challenging, but, paradoxically, the goal is not to fit in every event on every note; rather, the essence of his works lies in what is omitted in performance. This has a potent psychological effect on the classically-trained performer, accustomed to polished performances true to the composers wishes. With Ferneyhough, what he wishes is effectively equivocal, due in part to his documented changing views of his own output. Frederic Rzewski concludes that ‘†¦ it is not the notation but the compositional position that presents the performance problem. '14 We must additionally consider the example of those composers of equally complex, some may say impractical, music, who are also renowned performing exponents of their own scores; for example Michael Finnissy. By the nature of their enterprise, they are forced to consider the performer and, in Finnissy's case, continue to write music of such paradoxical complexity that, if one was to follow the score, is full of â€Å"errors† in performance, but still faithful to its essence. ‘The composer-performer [reacts] to their own notational problems, they know what idiomatic writing is being performers themselves and still choose to write music in a particular style'15 To contrast, take composer Glenn Branca's Symphony no. 6 ‘Devil Choirs at the Gates of Heaven', written in the main for electric guitars. He employs ‘staff notation', and no dynamic markings are evident as, naturally, the resultant dynamic of a piece of this nature will be at least fortissimo. Ironically, Branca's use of conventional notation links to his perception of it as being ‘exact': I had never written the pieces in staff notation until I wrote for the orchestra. Then I fell in love with the idea of having things so exact, with this notation, that I called up all my musicians [guitarists] and asked †can you guys read music? † It turned out that everybody could†¦ so we just started doing everything in staff notation. Not only did it make things clearer for me and the musicians, but it did change the music. 16 Branca's closing comment that ‘it did change the music' makes for interesting side-thought. For him, there were no subtleties or nuances that could not be recorded using this type of notation; in fact, it helped him to clarify and articulate his thoughts, correlating with the idea that notation must reflect the playing situation. The music of Christian Wolff embodies a similar aim to Cardew's, encouraging performer participation in the creation of a work and devising notations which allow such interaction. Theirs is an ‘aesthetic of non-intention', away from the conventional burdens of music: [music] must make possible the freedom and dignity of the performers. It should have in it a persistent capacity to surprise (even the performers themselves and the composer)'17 He creates deliberate paradoxical situations where what is written cannot be executed, for example in 6 Players where he asks one of the solo violas to ‘play eight notes in a quarter of a second, including three harmonics and one pizzicato'18. His use of indeterminacy in performance opens the work to external influences genuinely beyond the composer's intentions, and the barrier between performer and composer is reduced. 19 This use of indeterminate operations necessarily led to new attitudes towards performance. A working example of experimental notation is Cardew's Octet '61 [Example 1, below], which employs ‘an ambiguous ciphered notation, the working out of which by each performer leads to unforeseeable combinations of events that could be produced neither by strict composition nor by free improvisation. 20 As we have seen, ‘simple' notation does not necessarily equal many possible interpretations, and on the same line, an elaborate notation such as Cardew's can permit varied interpretation. The psychological impact of how the music looks on the page invites varied readings; the printed page is a storage medium where an inevitably incomplete representation of ‘notateable' ideas can be retained for the future. The fact that this aspect of the work does not change over time, like a painting or a book, does not mean that the piece will not change and evolve. Art's ability to carry societal properties, to evolve and reflect changing times is surely part of its value. The search for greater notational control led to greater complexity, yet the early influence of the possibilities of electronic music must have contributed to this pursuit. Peter Zinofieff spoke of an early ideal, satisfied by electronic composition, where ‘we can each have our own private language specially tailored for our own machines and individual needs or frustrations' 21 Ultimately, though, the performer's job is ‘to make the relationships and patterns in the music clear to the listener's mind and ear'22. This hope, though, displaces the enduring problems which lie between composers and those who are employed to realise the work, be they human or otherwise.

McDonald's Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Rituals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rituals - Essay Example One of the ghost stories that I heard at UC Irvine is a dance major who was obsessed with being the perfect dancer. She lived at one of the single rooms in Mesa Court. She was quiet and rarely went out of her room. One week had already passed, but she had not gone out of her room at all. People thought that she could be practicing hard for her upcoming performance, especially since they could see her silhouette in the curtain, dancing every day. However, the bad smell started creeping out into the whole floor. The RA knocked on the dancer’s door several times before she decided to forcefully enter it. She found the dance major hanging from a ceiling fan, with a rope around her neck. She spun around slowly, as if she just killed herself, although the autopsy revealed that she had been dead for 10 days already. People thought that she gave in to the pressure and committed suicide. Joseph Bosco says in â€Å"The Supernatural in Hong Kong Young People's Ghost Stories,† â₠¬Å"†¦many supernatural phenomena have natural explanations. The moral lesson of the story is to not yield to pressure and to remain sane with the help of one’s social support group, as well as to practice healthy rituals. She is a loner who thought she could make it on her own without friends or family to support her. At the same time, her ritual might have been too strenuous on her, mentally and physically. Perhaps she needed the magic of positive rituals that give a â€Å"sense of control, with that added confidence, at no cost†.

Case study on reducing customer churn fir T-Mobile Essay

Case study on reducing customer churn fir T-Mobile - Essay Example The rule was further enhanced by Sherden as 20-80-30 expressing the idea that the top 20 percent of customers generate 80 percent of the companys profits, half of which is lost serving the bottom 30 percent of the unprofitable customers (Sherden, 1994). Customer retention has become harder with the propagation of internet and increased bandwidth. Provision of several options has made the switching barriers ineffective. In order to keep the customer base in the safety net it is important for the company to fill all the loops and holes to avoid customer leakages. It is always important for the Telecommunication companies to find new and innovative ways of finding about the factors, which lead to the customer defection. It is also imperative for the company to create a connection with the customers being at high risk of defection and reduce the overall churn rate. It is important to tie the above mentioned segments in the loyalty string of the company. An automated survey query can be sent to the customers through email or the survey can be directly undertaken by sending an automated call to the specific numbers of the target audiences in order to get instant response from the customers on daily basis form both the segments of Pay Monthly and Pay as You Go customers. The survey then can be reviewed by the customer care staff so that call centre representatives can purposefully undertake conversation with the customer providing negative feedback. On the next level the customer should be provided with the opportunity to again fill a brief survey form. If again the feedback is negative the customer should be asked if they would like to speak with a manager regarding their issue(s). Managers should be notified of the customer call-back requests on urgent basis. The data regarding the customer’s survey responses should also be provided to t he manager in order to undertake useful follow up with the customers. The loss of the customers can be

Video review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Video review - Essay Example That is, it could be fitted to be suitable to what the engineers or customers wanted. The traditional iron triangle of waterfall was more rigid and could not accommodate some alterations. The modifications included things that could suit new customer behaviours. Contrary to the traditional iron triangle of Waterfall the agile model allowed an accelerated time to the market and allowed for aligning of IT to the business. With agile, the results depict an increase in productivity and software quality. There is also greater project visibility and a reduction of risks when compared to the iron triangle model of project management (Beierwaltes 1). Finally, it is less costly for a company or an individual to apply the agile model than the Iron Triangle of Waterfall. It is less costly to maintain the software involved in Agile than that of Iron triangle of Waterfall. Agile could be used on our project efficiently. The first reason is due to its cost effectiveness both in initial set up as well as the costs of maintenance. In addition, we could quickly alter its specifications to suit the needs of our projects better. There will be increased productivity and better results as a result of the software’s high quality (Beierwaltes

Philosophy presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philosophy presentation - Essay Example The principle of â€Å"initial† panopticon is as follows: there is a building which has a circular form (a ring), and in its centre there is a tower. The tower has big windows which face the interior side of the ring. The tower standing against the light, the prisoners’ figures can be seen clearly. Michel Foucault defines panoptism either as a concrete light organization which is characteristic for a prison, or as an abstract principle, a certain â€Å"mechanism† which is able to penetrate into all functions and structures, all sides of human life. An abstract formula of panoptism is, therefore, not â€Å"to see without being seen†, but to force a certain type of behaviour onto any number of people, any society. This social group should be reduced, placed into an enclosed space. A certain type of behaviour is enforced by means of relocation in space, classification in time, arrangement in space and time. Power is not necessarily a centralized power of a state. According to M. Foucault, the State itself emerges as a result of cooperation of numerous mechanisms and centres, which are situated at a different level and independently form the microphysics of power. How is the idea of Foucault reflected in our everyday life? In fact, all modern societies can be classified as â€Å"disciplinary† societies, â€Å"discipline† being a type of power, a technology penetrating all possible institutions, connecting them, prolonging their existence, stimulating their convergence and exposition in a brand-new regime. Army, schools, hospitals, and other institutions have more and more widely used such mechanisms of power illustrated by â€Å"Panopticon†. The spread of these mechanisms led to creation of the â€Å"disciplined society†, in which the â€Å"visibility† of the minority by the majority was gradually forced out by the â€Å"visibility† of the majority by the minority†, and the spectacular

The writing life of edgar allan poe Research Paper

The writing life of edgar allan poe - Research Paper Example While Poe was studying at the University of Virginia (1826-1827), he wrote some tales but little is known of these works. At age 18, he published his first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems. In 1829, Poe’s second book, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems was published in Baltimore. In 1831, Poe’s Poems was published in New York. In 1833, he won $50 for his work â€Å"MS Found in a Bottle†. It was also during this time that he started his career as a staff member of various magazines. Poe became editor of the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond in 1835. It was in this magazine that he wrote several critical book reviews which gave him a reputation of being a fearless critic (Poe Museum, par.9). In 1837, Poe left Southern Literary but he became editor of other magazines namely, the Gentleman’s Magazine and Graham’s Magazine in Philadelphia and the Broadway Journal in New York City. It was in Graham’s Magazine that Poe wrote â€Å"Murders in the Rue Morgues† which is considered the first modern detective story. In 1843, Poe won a $100 prize from the Dollar Newspaper of Philadelphia for his tale of pirate treasure in â€Å"The Gold Bug†. This award earned national attention for Poe. The next ten years saw Poe building a name as a poet, short story writer and an editor. It was during these times when he published some of his well-acclaimed works such as â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† and his most famous poem, â€Å"The Raven† (The Academy of American Poets, par.3). Poe died on October 7, 1849 in Baltimore. The tragedies that have befallen Poe have a great impact on his style of writing and the topics that he wrote about. His being an orphan at an early age, the death of his siblings and foster parents, poverty, a broken love affair, problems with gambling, and alleged drug use and alcoholism, all contributed to the literary genius that he was. Most of h is works reflected the darkness that enveloped his life. Poe’s is considered as part of the dark romanticism genre. He often used symbolisms in his work. In â€Å"The Raven†, he used the raven as a symbol of death, something which is bizarre. Poe’s writing is observed as always having a fascination with death. This may be attributed to several of his experiences involving the untimely loss of loved ones. The theme that surrounds his works was mostly of darkness and lost loves. Poe’s interest in psychology played an important part in his work’s visual imagery and emotions. He explored topics such as self-destruction, madness and imagination. There was however, a romantic side in his works, especially in his poetry. In his poem â€Å"Eulalie†, Poe’s inspiration was his wife, Virginia Clemm with whom he had a joyous married life. Poe also wrote humorous short stories such as â€Å"The Devil in the Belfry†, â€Å"The Duc de l'Omel ette†, â€Å"Bon-Bon† and â€Å"Never Bet the Devil Your Head†. These stories depict the devil as an ironic figure of fun (Liukkonen, par. 13) Poe is acknowledged as the originator of both horror and detective fiction. He is also credited as the â€Å"architect† of modern short story. Poe is known as the forerunner of the â€Å"art for art’s sake† movement because of his focus on the effect of the style and structure on the literary work (The Academy of American Poets, par. 4). To this day, Poe’s reputation is that of a writer of mystery and terror tales and

White Privilege Essay Example for Free

White Privilege Essay ?In essence, it’s a simple concept: white privilege refers to the both minor and significant advantages that white people have in today’s American society. To be honest reading this article was a huge eye opener for me. I still struggle with both believing that white privilege exists and figuring out how to get rid of it. I have never felt that I was privileged to be white, however, I suppose that could be because as McIntosh states â€Å"whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege† After reading McIntosh’s list of the daily effects of white privilege I now understand these privileges and can put myself into the shoes of other non-white individuals to see how they would perceive me as a privileged white woman. I have never thought of myself as being privileged, or better in any way that those that I come in contact with. The concept of white privilege does not deny my individual hardships that I’ve dealt with throughout life. Hardships can be circumstantial, they can be something we are born with, or even something that we cause on our own. These circumstances are for the most part out of our control. Some hardships are related to race, and those who haven’t experienced those particular race-related hardships, I now suppose are white. In most ways conferred dominance and the fact that whites have been labeled as superior in any way is the exact opposite of the way I feel about myself, and the way I view others in my daily life. After reading McIntosh’s article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, I suppose that I do see some advantages that I may have just always taken for granted. The one that may seem silly, but I’ve always wondered about is: why do they only make white â€Å"flesh† colored band aids? I t seems like a no brainer to me to make them in all flesh tones. In my school community which consists of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students I struggle to pick out white privileges. I do not feel that any of our teaching staff or administrators see themselves as dominant over any other race or culture within our school community. I suppose that the fact that our school principal, secretary, and most teachers are white would portray dominance within our race. The majority of our staff speak English, however we do have several bilingual teachers and staff members. In the classroom environment, other than our bilingual classrooms the population of white students is greater than that of any other race. As a teacher I am committed to equality and treating all of my students fairly and as equals in our classroom community. I do not think that 7 and 8 year old white students see themselves as dominant of more important than any other classmate. I can, however see how a Black, Hispanic, or students of other cultural background would feel at times to be the minority. I think that this feeling, however is taught to them at home, or somewhat of a learned feeling of identity. In my school community we do our best to incorporate other cultural history into our curriculum by designing lessons that educate our students about important people in our history from a variety of cultures. The majority of our schools population is comprised of white and Hispanic students. I think that as a whole we could do a better job at integrating more of the Hispanic culture into our school’s curriculum. After reading this article I now find myself more aware of the white privilege that I do hold, and am definitely going to work toward building my daily classroom routines and lessons to include a wider variety of cultures and discuss current events around the globe that my students can relate to.

My Future Carrer Essay Example for Free

My Future Carrer Essay How do you see your own future career, what would you like to happen and how do you think your life will change in the coming years? There are various options open nowadays. The problem of choosing the future profession has always been very important. The profession a person chooses in many ways determines his/her future life. To make a right choice first of all you should understand what you like to do. Usually there are several factors that influence the decision of young people. They concern material and spiritual aspects of the future career. It is generally believed that profession should be both prestigious and interesting. I can’t, but agree with this statement. Today the most popular profession is economics. This profession is both prestigious and interesting. From graduating from economic faculty it is possible to find good job. And of course it is well-paid. All this factors are important for me. I was born in a family of a businessman. Since my early childhood I watched the problems and difficulties in doing business in our country. On the other hand I saw how happy my dad was when he signed the profitable contracts, started a new firm. He really got satisfaction of a job well-done and gave a sense of achievement behind the clinching of an important deal. So I have decided to start my own business when I’m grown up. For this I have made up my mind to get serious about economics. I think that I have all needed skills to become a good businessman. As I’m on the go all my life, because of studying and my hobbies, I am very active and hard-working. Maybe I’m not restrained or patient, but I think, that employer will be impressed with my ambitions. I’m well-educated and creative. Nowadays you often find that the top executive in a company is a woman. I want to be one of them. I think that I have all leadership qualities to be the best. I think that in future I will attain all my goals and will really have my nose to the grindstone. As In the past, people do not have many choices about their future job. They usually continue their fathers and grandfathers jobs and careers. Nowadays, there are multiple of choices about the future job and they are independent of the family career. Each child now has a dream of his own future job and can be clearly appeared in their choices of their toys. One wants to be a doctor, other wants to be an engineer, other wants to be a teacher and so on. I thing when ones gets older and moves on the levels of education, it becomes not easy to choose the future job. More thinking comes about making the right choice and setting the criteria of choosing. I have thoughts about my future job, where I can express myself and become successful. I want in my future job to be able to use my initiative, feel freedom and independent, gain self satisfaction and get well-paid. Moreover, I want to have an excitement and continuance interest rather than routine job, which brings boredom and kills motivations and developments. I would like my future job to be in the education sector. I want to start my job as teacher, which I believe that it is an important job. It is connected to the humans’ mind that makes them different from all other creatures. It is also considered one of the oldest careers that known by the human. In addition, it is one of the main aims of the God’s messengers. One of the main objectives in my future job is continuation of development and gets more different and higher positions in the education sector. I think that will be more challengeable and exciting and give the chance to be more initiative. In conclusion, I want to be a successful in my future job and be an active person to ward the development of my country. I want be useful to my family make them proud and happy. Now, I am studying hard to get more knowledge and gain different skills to meet my objectives.

Market Oriented Development Strategy for Niger Delta

Market Oriented Development Strategy for Niger Delta ADOPT MARKET-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT. PURPOSE: To provide you with advice on policy strategy for market-oriented development for Niger Delta development and a recommended course of action. BACKGROUND: Conflicts in Niger Delta have generated domestic and international concerns. For more than 20 years, Niger Delta has experienced recurring conflicts often followed by violence which have been inspired, largely, by broad range of economic factors (for example, increased sense of marginalization, exploitation and injustice by the Niger Delta people, and increased poverty and inequality), political factors (for example, long-lasting corruption, mismanagement of allocated resources, and insensitivity of government to the needs and concerns of the Niger Delta people), environmental factors (for example, land degradation and other environmental disasters) and socio-cultural factors (for example, poor value orientation, particularly amongst the youth). Conflicts in Niger Delta have revealed a paradox in the economic development of the region. Niger Delta has remained the driving force of Nigerias oil and gas wealth, having the second highest recognized oil reserves in Africa and being the eight largest oil exporter in the world. Despite the abundance of natural resources, particularly oil and gas, in Niger Delta, and the huge amount of financial resource allocations from the federal government to, and financial investments by oil companies and donor agencies in, the region, Niger Delta has continued to produce disappointing economic development results. There has been a complete disconnection between the level of socio-economic developments in Niger Delta and the amount of financial resources that government, donor agencies, and oil companies operating in Niger Delta have invested in the region. These huge financial resources do not reflect in the living standards of the Niger Delta people; hence they have had insignificant impact on economic development in the region. The paradox in the economic development of Niger Delta has stimulated difficult development challenges, most especially as the conflicts between communities and oil companies, and government, as well as amongst communities, over resource allocations continue to manifest. Though the past governments have adopted many intervention programmes, through various government agencies, which have, indeed, helped to stabilize security situation in the region and created opportunity for economic development engagements, however, the fundamental causes of conflicts have not been tackled. The fundamental causes of conflicts reside in chronic poverty and inequality in Niger Delta. These are still largely deep-rooted in the regions checkered history of marginalization and deprivation, and are connected very much with the continuing forms of instability in the region. ISSUES: The key issue is the paradox in the economic development of Niger Delta. Development results in Niger Delta have been disappointing, despite the abundance of natural resources in the region, and huge amount of financial resources that government, oil companies and donor agencies have invested in the region (See Attachment A in the Appendix). Another issue is the continued difficult development challenges in Niger Delta, for example, administrative oversight, deteriorating socio-economic infrastructures, increasing poverty, inequality and unemployment, declining value orientation amongst young people, and long-lasting conflicts, despite governments interventions. These development challenges have continued to undermine intervention programmes by various government agencies. As a result, the fundamental causes of conflicts in Niger Delta have remained unsolved. These issues have revealed the imperative for a market-oriented economic development strategy. This is particularly important now that the security situation in the region has been stabilized to a large extent. The premise is that for the economic challenges in Niger Delta to be solved, development strategy needs to capture what the Niger Delta people perceive to be their interests, concerns and needs. The precept is that the federal government should focus on providing co-dependent elements of market-oriented development, for example, creating enabling environment for private sector participation in infrastructure development, while the private sector and donor agencies should assist the government in building the capacities of the Niger Delta people and strengthening the policymaking environment. ANALYSIS: Conflicts in Niger Delta have, historically, been framed on resource allocations. In all the conflicts, government has always been blamed for not returning to Niger Delta the proceeds that are derived from the sale of resources produced in the region. In recent years, as part of governments intervention programme to develop the region, government has set up agencies, for example, the Niger Delta Development Commission (in 2000), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (in 2009), the Presidential Amnesty Programme (in 2009), and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (in 2012). Through these agencies government has channelled funds for the development of the region. Available data shows that between 2010 and 2014, federal government has allocated about NGN7.4 trillion to Niger Delta. This amount came from different sources, for example, statutory oil revenue allocation, federal allocations to Niger Delta states, budgetary allocations to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme, and Ecological Fund, Pipeline Security Contracts for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, allocations from the Millennium Development Goals, financial contributions from international oil companies, and financial support from development donors (See Attachments A B). What these mean is that the fundamental problem with the development of Niger Delta is not lack of agencies to implement development plans, or allocation of funds to the region, but managing the funds allocated to the region. The processes for managing the funds allocated to Niger Delta have been deficient in transparency and accountability. The issues with the management of funds allocated to the region speak volumes about the poor governance structures and processes of various development plans. Findings from the reports published by the National Bureau of Statistics and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative between 2010 and 2013 have shown that there is presence of overlap and duplication of projects amongst agencies that are involved in Niger Delta development. The overlap and duplication are as a result of absence of a coherent development plan that is shared by the agencies. This has created inefficiency in project delivery, as resources are unevenly distributed. For example, while many projects are abandoned for lack of funds, other projects are duplicated. Other findings from studies done on states and local governments in the Niger Delta region have shown that there is lack of community engagement in the design and implementation of development programmes, as well as in budgeting processes for infrastructure projects. Many development projects do not include the preferences of the communities; hence the projects are often not tailored to the needs of the people. OPTIONS: There are three options to consider: Option A: Adopt a coherent market-oriented economic development strategy for Niger Delta development. Option B: Review the effectiveness of all the existing development plans that have been developed by various government agencies involved in Niger Delta development, and integrate the relevant initiatives into the strategy in option A. Option C: Recommend to Mr President to mandate all the relevant government agencies involved in Niger Delta development to collaborate and consolidate efforts towards developing the strategy in option A. RATIONALES: The current development plans for Niger Delta do not work for the vast majority of the poor people in the region because of the reasons (and more) stated in the analysis above. Therefore, the region needs a coherent market-oriented economic development strategy that will focus largely on tackling the fundamental issues poverty and inequality. Niger Delta development requires market-based systems that benefit the people, include the people in policy/decision making processes, have efficient governance structures and processes for managing funds allocated to the region, and can be sustained. The proposed strategy is not a new plan, rather an operational instrument, with a unified governance framework that is shared by all agencies involved in Niger Delta development, for implementing the existing development plans. To support Option A, the following cases are made: Case 1: Market systems must be beneficial to the poor: This makes the case that the market systems must be all-inclusive; well-organized; represent the interests of the poor; and sustainable in order to work for the poor. Case 2: Markets are integral part of peoples livelihood: The underlying principle here is that poor people rely largely on the market systems for their means of livelihood. Thus, peoples lives can be improved significantly through functional and sustainable market systems. Case 3: Social inclusion is essential for reducing poverty and closing inequality gap: This presents the case that the key to reducing poverty and closing inequality gap facing Niger Delta is enhancing the opportunities for people to participate in policy/decision making processes. Case 4: Access to the market systems: The guiding principle here is that access to the market systems creates an economic virtuous circle, where peoples standard of living is improved, productivity is enhanced, incomes are increased, food security is strengthened, and hunger and poverty are reduced. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The activities that will be carried out in respect of Options A and B will be funded from the budgetary allocations of the government agencies that will be involved in the processes. There is enough scope within their budgets to undertake the activities. Option C has no financial implications. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Honourable Minister is graciously invited to: Agree to adopt the strategy proposed in this brief to ensure consolidation of the gains from the stabilized security situation in, and development of, Niger Delta. Note that the proposed strategy is not a new plan, but an operational instrument, with a unified governance framework, for implementing the existing development plans. Agree to direct for a review of all the existing development plans developed for Niger Delta development. Agree to recommend to Mr President to direct all the relevant agencies involved in Niger Delta development to collaborate and consolidate efforts towards developing the proposed strategy.

Existentialism in Albert Camus The Plague and Samuel Becketts Waiting

All of the characters in The Plague and Waiting For Godot exist in their fictional worlds. However, none is able to explain why. Neither work gives the reader an explanation of human existence except to say that humans exist. Providing an answer to the question of existence would constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then you've missed the whole point. Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts (Bigelow 134). Basically, existentialism addresses man's existence. An existentialist believes that man does not exist under God or as part of a society or race. Man does exist, and that is all. An explanation as to why man exists cannot be found. Finally, an individual exists not as a function of a greater good or evil; thus, the individual is free to live his life (135). Existentialism as a literary movement is most often associated with post World War II France. The images that come to mind are of Frenchmen with uncombed beards, smoky basement cafes, and beatniks conversing with one another on the subject of despair between sips of absinthe. However, many of the most prominent existentialist writers had rigorous and significant experiences in the Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France (Lottman 54). Out of true despair they formed ideas and posed questions of great importance. They sought to understand and explain human existence. They concluded that existence is to be acknowledged, but can never be explained. Two existentialist works are Samuel Beckett's Waiti... ... them to reevaluate their relations to others and to question their own existence. At first, most citizens assume that they will not get the plague, but they soon realize that even they are not immune to it. In this way they question their own humanity and are faced with something bigger than they have ever contemplated. They, like Vladimir and Estragon, are unable to come up with answers. All of the characters in The Plague and Waiting For Godot exist in their fictional worlds. However, none is able to explain why. Neither work gives the reader an explanation of human existence except to say that humans exist. Providing an answer to the question of existence would constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then you've missed the whole point. The key is in asking the question. The realization is in accepting that there is no answer

Happiness in Brave New World :: Brave New World Essays

Happiness in Brave New World Huxley implies that by abolishing nastiness and mental pain, the brave new worlders have got rid of the most profound and sublime experiences that life can offer as well. Most notably, they have sacrificed a mysterious deeper happiness which is implied, but not stated, to be pharmacologically inaccessible to the utopians. The metaphysical basis of this presumption is obscure. There are hints, too, that some of the utopians may feel an ill-defined sense of dissatisfaction, an intermittent sense that their lives are meaningless. It is implied, further, that if we are to find true fulfilment and meaning in our own lives, then we must be able to contrast the good parts of life with the bad parts, to feel both joy and despair. As rationalisations go, it's a good one. But it's still wrong-headed. If pressed, we must concede that the victims of chronic depression or pain today don't need interludes of happiness or anaesthesia to know they are suffering horribly. Moreover, if the mere relativity of pain and pleasure were true, then one might imagine that pseudo-memories in the form of neurochemical artefacts imbued with the texture of "pastness" would do the job of contrast just as well as raw nastiness. The neurochemical signatures of deja vu and jamais vu provide us with clues on how the re-engineering could be done. But this sort of stratagem isn't on Huxley's agenda. The clear implication of Brave New World is that any kind of drug-delivered happiness is "false" or inauthentic. In similar fashion, all forms of human genetic engineering and overt behavioural conditioning are to be tarred with the same brush. Conversely, the natural happiness of the handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed Savage on the Reservation is portrayed as more real a nd authentic, albeit transient and sometimes interspersed with sorrow. The contrast between true and false happiness, however, is itself problematic. Even if the notion is both intelligible and potentially referential, it's not clear that "natural", selfish-DNA-sculpted minds offer a more authentic consciousness than precision-engineered euphoria. Highly selective and site-specific designer drugs [and, ultimately, genetic engineering] won't make things seem weird or alien. On the contrary, they can deliver a greater sense of realism, verisimilitude and emotional depth to raw states of biochemical bliss than today's parochial conception of Real Life.

The Challenges in Learning Foreign Language

Georgiy Sichinava Peter Starr Writing 115 10/11/2012 The challenges in learning foreign language The case of being a foreigner while improving your skills is very common in the contemporary society. A lot more people are crossing the border of the home country either to advance their language skills or to get a better education in a certain sphere. Being the part of this reality, I recently moved to the United States to earn a degree. Thus the situation shown in the David Sedaris’ essay â€Å"Me Talk Pretty One Day† is very close to me. As a matter of fact, I personally know the feelings that author expressed in his essay.Obviously there are plenty of other things that David & I have in common. To tell the truth, I suppose each foreign student faces almost the same challenges. The biggest one that a foreigner faces is difference in a way of speaking and people’s behavior. As a result, international students have problems in interpreting the language and understan ding the culture. â€Å"My fear and discomfort crept beyond the borders of my classroom and accompanied me out onto the wide boulevards, where, no matter how hard I tried, there was no escaping the feeling of terror I felt whenever anyone asked me a question. (Sedaris 298). In these words David illustrated the hardship of being in a foreign community. Learning second language seems really hard at the beginning. After a while it is getting much easier, but at a certain point you feel that this is it and you will not be able to advance your skills anymore. †Over time, it became impossible to believe that any of us would ever improve. † (Cedaris 299). Even a dedicated person like David had pessimistic thoughts about his improvements. There is a difference between listening to/hearing the foreign language and speaking the one.When you are speaking a foreign language you can only rely on the words you know. However remembering these words as well as appropriately using them is not an easy task. When you are listening/hearing you deal with understanding the words and their meaning. The poorer your vocabulary is, the more likely you are to face the difficulties in understanding the words and thus the meaning of the message. Speaking a foreign language is a great achievement. It requires a long process full of obstacles along the way. A person should learn a lot of words. However this does not guarantee that he will start speaking immediately.As a rule a person has a language barrier. David had that problem. â€Å"Understanding doesn’t mean that you can suddenly speak the language† (Sedaris 299). I had exactly the same experience. Back home I thought I was good at speaking English. But here in the United States the first day of my classes changed my opinion. I found it really hard to understand what people around me were saying. I felt like a black sheep. Even when I understood something, I could not respond correctly just because my vocabul ary was far from being enough to express everything I wanted.Besides difficulties with the language, foreigners deal with challenging situations in understanding the culture and the ways local people are. Expectations and the reality do not coincide in most cases. â€Å"As an added discomfort, they were all young, attractive, and well dressed, causing me to feel not unlike PA Kettle trapped backstage after a fashion show. † (Sedaris 295). As for me, I found that people think completely different here. The way people think about life, priorities, humor and everything else is very different. The first day of school is never easy.Even for local students going to a new school for the first time is challenging. And when you do it in a foreign country, you are beyond nervous. This is true about all international students. Obviously David was very nervous on his first day of school. â€Å"The first day of class was nerve-racking because I knew I’d be expected to perform. â⠂¬  (Sedaris 295). Unlike David I did not have any expectations about my first class. I was simply nervous and I could not sleep the whole night. It is very common for a foreign student, who is unable to easily express his opinion out loud, to do lots of thinking of his own. I scrambled to think of an answer to what had obviously become a trick question. How often are you asked what you love in this world? More important, how often are you asked and then publicly ridiculed for your answer? I recalled my mother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sedaris 297) Like David, I did/do lots of analyzing during my classes. I was/am trying to digest everybody’s messages, comparing them with my own experience. After reading the essay I do believe that the students’ attitude toward teacher was extremely negative. She was the only person who made her students hate her because of er taunts from the first day. Although the teacher was not the nicest person in the world and caused lots of confusion and scared students, the author admitted that teacher’s behavior motivated him to study harder and achieve better results. â€Å"Refusing to stay convicted on the teacher’s charges of laziness, I’d spend four hours a night on my homework, working even longer whenever we were assigned an essay† (Sedaris 298). This proves that David had a desire to advance his language, in order to easily argue with his teacher.In conclusion, I would say that the essay â€Å"Me Talk Pretty One Day† by David Sedaris is a must read story for those who are planning to study abroad. David made a really funny story that shows all the positive and negative aspects of being a foreigner. In fact, being an international student is a really challenging job. But it also the most amazing thing ever happened to me. You rediscover the world, get to know lots of new people and learn new culture. All those eventually help one become stronger and capable of managing the difficult situati ons.

How effectively two productions of Macbeth introduce Duncan Essay

Examine how effectively two productions of Macbeth introduce Duncan. In your answer you may wish to consider setting, lighting, costumes and choice of actor? King Duncan is introduced in the text as text as the first speaking character after the witches, and in only a short space of time has shown himself to be a figure of power, able command the respect of his fellow man and is a keen listener. William Shakespeare’s text starts by showing King Duncan’s authority in his first sentence: â€Å"What bloody man is that?† The king demands, instead of waiting for an answer, he puts two and two together and says: â€Å"He can report, as seemth by his plight† And the soldier tells the king about the battle. Duncan also keeps his Reponses short and to the point, he appears to be a good listener as he never interrupts anyone while there talking and waits for his turn to talk, a respectful king. Also as king he appears to be noble even though he doesn’t have to be, this is shown by: â€Å"O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman† Here he addresses Macbeth with a title furthermore calling him brave and he calls the captain worthy. He is also a caring man this is demonstrated after the bleeding captain finishes tells him about the battle: â€Å"Go get him surgeons.† The king doesn’t have to have anything to do with this but he takes action. In 1971Roman Polanski directed a cinema version of the Shakespeare play Macbeth. This film introduced a whole new generation to William Shakespeare, Listed below are differences between this form of media and what was traditionally seen as the home of Shakespeare, the stage. The differences being a less sophisticated audience, in terms of knowledge Shakespeare’s plays. Ability to film on location, this has the advantage of looking great it if done correctly but if it is done badly it looks cheap and tacky. The amount of actors in the movie industry out weights that of the stage productions, so a range of talent to choose from is greater. Roman Polanski not only takes advantage of all of the above but he makes the characters his as he sees them. An example of the is King Duncan, Polanski chooses a man of about 45 years of age, he does this because he doesn’t to see older less active man, he wants to show a king of action, this is shown in the movie, when we see the king on horseback riding across the battlefield, this happens at the expense of the text at the start of act 1 scene 2 where it says the location: â€Å"King Duncan’s camp near Forres† It says camp not battleground, the king would never go into battle himself this was his right as a king. Another thing Polanski does is to show the king wearing a poncho with his family coat of arms embroiled on it, below this Duncan is clad to battle armour, this gives us a false impression of bravery, and he also rides with his crown on his head this is to gain yet more attention, almost rubbing his advantage over the lesser men. The opening with scene with Duncan has him riding over a sand dune, but before we even see this we people play the trumpet, you have to important to have your own fanfare and guard, as they ride on to beach the camera keeps up with them and we see the sky the is heavily over cast, maybe a sign of things to come. Polanski has also seen fit to shorten the parts to the play, the effect of this is to keep things flowing fast and to hold the audiences attention. When Duncan starts talking to the injured captain, it seem very informal, they’re all it horse and none of them show respect to king by bowing or other courtships. The king then travels to see Cawdor, who is pined down, by seeing this man Duncan is lower himself because it almost like he is getting his hands dirty as appose to just giving orders, then he takes out his board sword and lowers it to Cawdor’s neck where in skilfully removes a medallion and for the briefest of moments we think he going to kill him. In the Trevor Nunn version of Macbeth, this is a stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company. There are more limitations placed on the director because it is a stage production all the action takes place in the same place, this also forces the audience to use there imaginations, more that a film. Props can be used but there are limitations to how much you can do. The opening sequence we see a circle of light, a metaphor for everlasting life, everything is in complete darkness except the for this circle, the forces of evil and the force of good are both represented and both will play roles in the play. The actors come on stage from the darkness and one stands the king, he is wearing a white one piece sheet, the white is in contrast with the darkness and could be a metaphor for peace and purity. The camera then pans around each actor in turn, each is wearing black and looks to be about middle age, then it passes Duncan who has a full beard and looks quite like a Santa Claus figure Santa is known for his kindness and good judgement this also true for Duncan. After the witches’ predicts, we see how frail he is when to friendly face comes to his aid helping him to his feet, his maybe a sign that the end is coming. In summary the both versions of Macbeth enlightening, it was useful to get some else’s perspective on Macbeth. But there can be not denying Duncan greatness when an enemy say this: â€Å"Besides, This Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so cleat in his great office† Macbeth says this about Duncan, with enemies like this who need friends. I think Trevor Nunn version represented Duncan better because Nunn used simple but very powerful metaphors.   

Life chances of young people Essay

Describe the social, economic and cultural factors that can have an impact on the outcomes and life chances of young people. Whether it be family income, social class or racial background, factors like these often have a long lasting impact on children’s lives. The economic factors are, in my opinion, the easiest to describe as the extremes are most apparent. GCSE results showed that children who’s parents worked tended to do better that those who’s parents didn’t. Those children who lived below the poverty line tended to do worse again. This is a clear indicator that economic wellbeing has a positive effect on the outcomes of young people. Cultural factors can impact massively on children’s lives. The first example of this that springs to most people‘s minds is often when a group is discriminated against because of their culture. This is well documented throughout history and where it has happened, those children who have been subject to discrimination have generally achieved less at school and had fewer life chances. This is not the only example however. In certain cultures there is a tendency for boys to be offered more opportunities than girls, possibly where the girls will expected to take on the role of housewife. This is the case in certain religious sects and ethnic backgrounds. For me, social inequality is the broadest factor that can impact upon children. The class system may still be used on occasion to differentiate and discriminate , whether by other children or authorities keen to place children in a certain category. The more common factors though are things like bullying and gender discrimination. Bullying is a traumatic experience that will often affect a child for many years, sometimes into adulthood. Children who have been bullied will often be less confident and can often  experience difficulty at school. Gender discrimination can sometimes lead to bullying but is also evident elsewhere in the UK. Men still tend to earn more than women and still occupy a great many more CEO roles in this country. There are far more male Mps and a smaller percentage of women again in the cabinet. Explain the importance and impact of poverty on the outcomes and life chances of young people. University entrance results show that far fewer children who have grown up in poverty are entering higher education. This is a clear indicator that poverty has a negative effect on a child’s education. This can be for a number of reasons. Simply owning a car allows parents a wider choice of schools for their children to attend. Another example is whether or not the child has a workspace in order to complete homework or projects for school. Children living in poverty often live in a small house where each room is shared between several people. The more serious cases however are when children are discriminated against because of their families wealth. More often than not the first indicator of poverty will be a child’s appearance. Those children who live in poverty have a higher tendency towards poor hygiene and scruffier clothes, as their families may not own a washing machine or in more extreme cases, have any hot water. This can lead to some professionals categorising these children as underachievers, whilst their peers may pick on them which may lead to bullying. Children who live in poverty are seldom offered the luxury of things like holidays. This is especially true of holidays abroad. I once taught in a school in Bradford where none of the children, aged 8- 9, had left the city. This means they have never experienced other cultures or places and may be less likely to in later life. When those children become adults this means they are less likely to make a geographical move in order to help them out of poverty. Examples of this are rife in south Wales where there are no longer any jobs in towns such as Merthyr Tydfil. Unemployment figures have continued to rise whilst young adults are finishing school and remaining in  their home town. Describe the impact of children and young people’s experiences on the outcomes and life chances of young people. Oscar Wild said that â€Å"variety is the spice of life†. Too an extent I believe this to be true. Those children who are offered many rich and varied experiences are often more open minded when it comes to trying something new. However, the way in which children’s life chances can be most keenly affected is through a traumatic experience. Children who suffer bereavement or abuse often have issues socially and may struggle to make friends. Children who are bullied by peers, teachers or family often build a negative association with that aspect of their life and will turn down chances such as further education or families of their own. The flip side of course is if excellent care is given then children will most likely flourish and seize their opportunities. The role of the Early Years professional is to provide positive experiences for children, whilst identifying negative ones and offering support, not just to the child, but to the family as a whole. Through this the child will build in confidence and learning and will be better prepared for, and more likely to seize the opportunities that life provides.

Plastic money: Indian Experience Essay

Introduction to Plastic Money Plastic money or polymer money, made out of plastic, is a new and easier way of paying for goods and services. Plastic money was introduced in the 1950s and is now an essential form of ready money which reduces the risk of handlings a huge amount of cash. It includes Debit cards, ATMs, smart cards, etc. Credit cards, variants of plastic money, are used as substitutes for currency. see more:what is plastic money MEANING Plastic money refers to credit cards, we use them whenever we want and pay later (with interest, of course). It makes it too easy for us to buy things we normally could not afford, which makes it easier to get into debt. DEFINITION A slang phrase for credit cards, especially when such cards used to make purchases. The â€Å"plastic† portion of this term refers to the plastic construction of credit cards, as opposed to paper and metal of currency. The ―money† portion is an erroneous reference to credit cards as a form of money, which they are not. Although credit cards do facilitate transactions, because they are a liability rather than an asset, they are not money and not part of the economy’s money supply. The History Of Credit Cards and Debit Cards InPlastic Money Credit cards have evolved into a safe and secure manner to purchase goods and services. The Internet has given credit card users additional purchasing power. Banks have options like cash-back rewards, savings plans and other incentives to entice people to use their cards. Debit cards allow people the convenience of cards without the worry of racking up debt. The convenience, security and rewards offered by credit and debit cards keep shoppers using their cards as opposed to checks or cash. Credit Card Origins The first credit cards were issued by individual stores and merchants. These cards were issued in limited locations and only accepted by the businesses that issued them. While the cards were convenient for the customers, they also provided a customer loyalty and customer service benefit, which was good for both customer and merchant. It was not until1950 that the Dinner’s Club card was created by a restaurant patron who forgot his wallet and realized there needed to be an alternative to cash only. This started the first credit card specifically for widespread use, even though it was primarily used for entertainment and travel expenses. Plastic Becomes the Standard The first Diner’s Club cards were made out of cardboard or celluloid. In 1959 American Express changed all that with the first card made of plastic. American Express created a system of making an impression of the card presented at the register for payment. Then that impression was billed to the customer and due in full each month. Several American Express cards still operate like this as of 2010. It was not until the late 1980s that American Express began allowing people to pay their balance over time with additional card options. Bank Card Associations In 1966, Bank of America created a card that was a general purpose card or â€Å"open loop† card. These â€Å"closed loop† agreements limited cards like Diners Club and American Express to certain merchants, unlike the new† open loop† cards. The new general purpose system required interbank cooperation and additional regulations. This created additional safety features and began building the credit card system of today. Two systems emerged as the leaders–Visa and Master Card. However, today there is little difference between the two and most merchants accept both card associations. Debit Cards Emerge The Visa association of cards took credit cards to a new level in 1989 when they introduced debit cards. These cards linked consumers to their checking accounts. Money was now drawn from a checking account at the point of sale with these new cards and replaced check writing. This helped the merchants check that money was available and made it easier to track the customer if the funds could not be obtained. Consumers liked the convenience of not having to write checks at the point of sale, which made debit cards a safe alternative to cash and checks. The Future There were almost 29 million debit card users as of 2006, with a projected 34.4 million users by 2016. However, online services like Pay Pal are emerging as a way for people to pay their debts in new, secure and convenient ways. Technology also exists to have devices implanted into phones, keys and other everyday devices so that the ability to pay at the point of sale is even more convenient. TYPES OF PLASTIC MONEY Different types:- Credit card A credit card is plastic money that is used to pay for products and services at over 20 Million locations around the world. All you need to do is produce the card and sign a charge slip to pay for your purchases. The institution which issues the card makes the payment to the outlet on your behalf; you will pay this ‘loan’ back to the institution at a later date. In short†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Cashless payment with a set spending limit Payment takes place after the purchase Great flexibility thanks to installment facility Most well-known credit cards: American Express, MasterCard, Visa Debit card Debit cards are substitutes for cash or check payments, much the same way that credit cards are. However, banks only issue them to you if you hold an account with them. When a debit card is used to make a payment, the total amount charged is instantly reduced from your bank balance. Don’t borrow on your credit card! Here’s why A debit card is only accepted at outlets with electronic swipe-machines that can check and deduct amounts from your bank balance online. In short †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Card is linked to the cardholder’s bank account Transaction is directly Debited immediately from bank account No credit or installment facility Most well-known debit cards: Maestro, Postcard Charge card A charge card carries all the features of credit cards. However, after using a charge card you will have to pay off the entire amount billed, by the due date. If you fail to do so, you are likely to be considered a defaulter and will usually have to pay up a steep late payment charge. When you use a credit card you are not declared a defaulter even if you miss your due date. A 2.95 per cent late payment fees (this differs from one bank to another) is levied in your next billing statement. In short Cashless payment without a set spending limit Payment takes place after the purchase No credit or installment facility Most well-known charge cards: American Express, Diners Club Amex card Amex stands for American Express and is one of the well-known charge cards. This card has its own merchant establishment tie-ups and does not depend on the network of MasterCard or Visa. Credit cards: Remember these dos and don’ts. This card is typically meant for high-income group categories and companies and may not be acceptable at many outlets. There are a wide variety of special privileges offered to Amex cardholders. Dinner club card Diners Club is a branded charge card. There are a wide variety of special privileges offered to the Diners Club card holder. For instance, as a cardholder you can set your own spending limit. Besides, the card has its own merchant establishment tie-ups and does not depend on the network of MasterCard or Visa. However, since this card is typically meant for high-income group categories, it may not be acceptable at many outlets. It would be agood idea to check whether a member establishment does accept thecard or not in advance. Global card Global cards allow you the flexibility and convenience of using a credit card rather than cash or travelers cheque while traveling abroad for either business or personal reasons. Co-branded card Co-branded cards are credit cards issued by card companies that have tied up with a popular brand for the purpose of offering certain exclusive benefits to the consumer. A debit card with a difference For example, the Citi-Times card gives you all the benefits of a Citibank credit card along with a special discount on Times Music cassettes, free entry to Times Music events, etc. Master card & Visa MasterCard and Visa are global non-profit organizations dedicated to promote the growth of the card business across the world. They have built a vast network of merchant establishments so that customers worldwide may use their respective credit cards to make various purchases. Smart card A smart card contains an electronic chip which is used to store cash. This is most useful when you have to pay for small purchases, for example bus fares and coffee. No identification, signature or payment authorization is required for using this card. The exact amount of purchase is deducted from the smart card during payment and is collected by smart card reading machines. No change is given. Currently this product is available only in very developed countries like the United States and is being used only sporadically in India. Photo card If your photograph is imprinted on a card, then you have what is known as a photo card. Doing this helps identify the user of the credit card and is therefore considered safer. Besides, in many cases, your photo card can function as your identity card as well. Customer card/store card (PLCC) Card with payment and credit function can only be used at specific retailers Well-known customer cards: my One, Globus, Media Markt. Prepaid card/gift card Card is topped up with credit before use No credit or installment facility Open system (American Express, Visa, MasterCard) or closed system (can only be used at specific retailers) CREDIT CARD INTRODUCTION A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder’s promise to pay for these goods and services. The issuer of the card grants a line of credit to the consumer or the user) from which the user can borrow money for payment to a merchant or as a cash advance to the user. Usage of the term â€Å"credit card† to imply a credit card account is a metonym. When a purchase is made the user would indicate consent to pay by signing a receipt with a record of the card details and indicating the amount to be paid. Issuer agrees to pay the merchant and the credit card user agrees to pay the card issuer. DEFINITION The credit card can be defined as â€Å"A small plastic card that allows its holder to buy goods and services on credit and to pay at fixed intervals through the card issuing agency. MEANING A credit card is a card or mechanism which enables card holder to purchase goods, travels and dine in a hotel without making immediate payments. The holders can use the cards to get credit from banks up to 45days.The credit card relieves the consumers from the botheration of carrying cash and ensures safety. It is a convenience of extended credit without formality. Thus credit card is a passport to, â€Å"safety, convenience, prestige and credit. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OFCREDIT CARD ADVANTAGES OF CREDIT CARD The benefits of credit card can be grouped as follows: (A) BENEFITS TO THE BANK a) A credit card is an integral part of banks major services these days. The credit card provides the following advantages to the bank: the system provides an opportunity to the bank to attract new potential customers. b) To get new customers the bank has to employee special trained staff. This gives the bank an opportunity to find the latent talent from among existing staff that would have been otherwise wasted. c) The more important function of a credit card, however, is simply to yield direct profit for the bank. There is a scope and a potential for a better profitability out of income / commission earned from the traders turn over. d) This also provides additional customer services to the existing clients. It enhances the customer satisfaction. e) More use by the car holder and consequently the growth of banking habits in general. f) Better network of card holders and increased use of cards means higher popularity and image of the bank. g) Savings of expense on cash holdings, i.e . stationery, printing and man power to handle clearing transactions while considerably is reduced. It increases. (B) BENEFITS TO CARD HOLDER The principal benefits to a card holder are: a) He can purchase goods and services at a large number of outlets without cash or cheque. The card is useful in emergency, and can save embarrassment. b) The risk factor of carrying and storing cash is avoided. It is convenient for him to carry credit card and he has trouble free travel and may purchase his without carrying cash or cheque. c) Months purchases can be settled with a single remittance, thus, tending to reduce bank and handling charges. d) The card holder has the period of free credit usually between 30-50 days of purchase. e) Cash can usually be obtained with the card, either on card account or by using it as identification when encasings a cheque at the bank. f) Availing credit with minimum formality. g) The credit card saves trouble and paper work to traveling business man. (C) BENEFITS TO THE MERCHANT ESTABLISHMENT The principal benefits offer credit card to the retailer is a) This will carry prestigious weight to the outlets. b) Increases in sale because of increased purchasing power of the card holder due to unbilled credit available to the card holder. c) The retailers gain from the impulse buying and trading up the tendency to buy the bigger or better article. d) Credit card ensures timely and certainly of payments. e) Suppliers/sellers no longer have to send reminders of outstanding debits. f) Systematic accounting since sales receipts are routed through banking channels. g) Advertising and promotional support on national scale. h) Development of prestigious clientele base. DISADVANTAGES OF CREDIT CARD The following are the common disadvantages of the credit card: a) Some credit card transactions take longer time than cash transactions because of various formalities. b) The customer tends to overspend out of immerse happiness. c) Discounts and rebates can rarely be obtained. d) The cardholder is responsible for charges due to loss or theft of the card and the bank may not be party for loss due to fraud or collusion of staff, etc e) Customers may be denied cash discount for payment through card. f) It might lead to spending habits and cardholders may end up in big debts i) Avoid the entire cost and security problem involved in handling cash. j) Losses to bad debts and reduced an additional liquidity is. k) It also allows him to delegate spending power to add on members. l) Credit card is considered as a status symbol. Parties Involved Cardholders: The holder of the card used to make a purchase, the consumers. Card-issuing Bank: The financial intuition or others organisations that issued the credit card to the cardholder. Acquiring bank: The financial institution accepting payment for the products or services on behalf of the merchant. Merchant Accounts: This could refer to the acquiring bank or the independent sales organization, but in general is organization that the merchants deal with. Credit Card Association: An association of card-issuing banks such as Discover, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. that set transaction terms for merchants, card –issuing banks, and acquiring banks Transaction network: The system that implements the mechanics of electronics transaction. May be operated by an independent company, and one company may operate multiple networks. Affinity Partner: Some institutions lend their names to an issuer to attract customers that have a strong relationship with that institution, a nd get paid a fee or a percentage of the balance for each card issued using their name. Insurance Providers: Insurers underwriting various insurance protections offered as credit card perks. Transaction Steps Authorization: The cardholder presents the card as payment to the merchant and the merchant submits the transaction to the acquirer (acquiring bank). The acquirer verifies the credit card number, the transaction type and the amount with the issuer (Card-issuing back) and reserves that amount of the cardholders credit limit for the merchant. An authorization will generate  an approval code, which the merchant stores with the transaction. Batching: Authorized transactions are stored in â€Å"batches†, which are sent to the acquirer. Batches are typically submitted once per day at the end of the business day. If a transaction is not submitted in the batch, the authorization will say valid for a period determined by the issuer, after which the held amount will be returned to the cardholders available credit. Clearing and Settlement: The acquirer sends the batch transactions through the credit card association, which debits the issuers for payment and credited the acquirer. Essentially, the issuer pays the acquirer for the transaction. Funding: Once the acquirer has been paid, the acquirer pays the merchant. The merchant receives the amount totalling the funds in the batch minus the â€Å"discount rate†, â€Å"mid-qualified rate†, or â€Å"non-qualified rate† which are tiers of fees the merchant pays the acquirer for processing the transactions. Charge backs: A Chargeback is an event in which money in a merchant account is held due to a dispute relating to the transaction. Charge backs are typically initiated by the cardholder. In the event of charge backs, the issuer returns the transaction to the acquirer for resolution. The acquirer then forwards the chargeback to the merchant, who must either accept the chargeback or contest it. Costs Credit card issuers (banks) have several types of costs: Interest Expenses Operating Costs Charges offs or Bad Debts Rewards Fraud Promotion Revenues Offsetting the costs are the following revenues: Interchanges fee Interest on outstanding balance Over limit charges Fees charged to customers Late payments or overdue payments Charges that result in exceeding the credit limit on the card (whether done  deliberately or by mistake), called over limit fees Returned cheques fees or payment processing fees (e.g. phone payment fee) Cash advances and convenience cheques Transactions in a foreign currency. A few financial institutions do not charge a fee for this. Membership fees (annual or monthly), sometimes a percentage of the credit limit. Exchange rate loading fees. ADVANCTAGES OF PLAST MONEY Plastic is very useful in the building and construction, electronics (laptops wouldn’t work well if they were made from glass), packaging (glad wrap), transportation industries. Very easy to make – water bottles, plastic bags, pens, cups etc. The main advantages of plastic materials are also the reason why plastic is such a problem. It lasts forever and it is very cheap to make. When I say it last forever, I mean it does not biodegrade. There is a flotilla of plastic the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. It gradually photo-degrades into tiny pieces that enter the marine food chain. Plastic is good, light, strong and cheap to produce. There are many advantages to using plastic. It does not decompose but it can instead be recycled. This is done more easily than producing more plastic. Unlike aluminum cans, plastic bottles can be re-used and stored over and over again. Plastic is usually not breakable and it is see-through. It’s light-weight and odourless. Plastic comes from a natural resource (oil) but CAN’T be re-made into bottles (but they can be re-made into other items- WEIRD!) It takes a long time to break down†¦ Customer having poor credit worthiness can opt for debit card. Instant finalization of accounts less identification and scrutiny than personal checks, thereby making transactions quicker and less intrusive. A debit card may be used to obtain cash from an ATM or a PIN-based transaction atnoextracharge. DISADVANCTAGES OF PLAST MONEY it is a compound that is indestructible, even when it is melted the compound gas that is gives off is very harmful to our heath and environment; it weakens the ozone layer. Most plastic is produced from oil. The world is gradually running out of oil. Scientists are now developing plastics that are made from vegetable oil and other organic matter. This means that the plastic is more likely to be degradable, so it will be less of a problem in future. Another Disadvantage is pollution Plastic accumulation in the environment is a looming catastrophe. It is cheap but it is not easily disposable so it is in a lot of landfills. plastic bags can kill the marine animals and destroy the soil Limited to the existing funds in the account to which it is linkedÊ Banks charging over-limit fees or non-sufficient funds fees based upon pre-authorizations, and even attempted but refused transactions by the merchantÊ Lower levels of security protection than credit cardsÊ More prone to frauds. Plastic Fraud State-of-the-art thieves are concentrating on plastic cards. In the past,this type of fraud was not very common. Today, it is a big business for criminals. Plastic cards bring new convenience to your shopping and banking, but they can turn into nightmares in the wrong hands. This pamphlet describes credit and debit cards and some common schemesinvolving card fraud with tips to help you avoid them. The following are the types of frauds 1.Stolen Cards at the Office 2.Extra Copies of Charge Slips 3.Discarded Charge Slips 4.Unsigned Credit Cards 5.Loss of Multiple Cards 6.Strange Requests for Your PIN Numbers 7.Legitimate Cards 8.Altered Cards 9.Counterfeit Cards TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE One of the most important features that Plastic Money offers is thetechnology associated with this business. Credit card businesses rely on very reliable and secure technology anddemands very Strong connectivity backbone. Although a third world country, with lot of insecurities and almost noinfrastructure, Pakistanhas no exception when it comes to credit card business. There is approximately 3000 Point of Sale Terminals (POST) presenton merchant’s sites connected with bank host system. Inter-city connectivity is accomplished through X.25 networks. Perhaps, it is the most important time in the history of Pakistan as the parameters of its Infrastructures are coming into existence. There is an immense need of reliable wide area connectivity and thismarket is so huge and lucrative that it can accommodate many moreindustry giant CASE STUDY What Happens in Credit Card Fraud Cases? The Basics A variety of crimes constitute credit card fraud. The term candescribe a person using a stolen credit card to purchase goods or services posing as the person named on the card. It can also describe illegally andfraudulently withdrawing funds from an account that is not yours. Identitytheft, which is the act of posing as an individual to make purchases, is oftenclassified together with credit card fraud. A victim of credit card fraud cansometimes see bank accounts emptied of all their funds or negative marksgoing on her credit report for things she had nothing to do with. Many banks will monitor transactions made with a credit card and alert the personnamed on the account of any potentially suspicious activity. This is to protect the bank or Credit Card Company just as much as it is to protect thecustomer. Investigation Exactly what happens during a credit card fraud case depends a great deal on the actions of the Credit Card Company or bank involved. If fraudulent transactions are proven to have been made on a person’s account but the amount of the transactions is lower than the cost of an investigate on the company can credit the money back to a person and then close the account to protect from further farm. If the amounts of fraudulent charges are so great that an investigation is warranted, the police will be notified. The credit card company can look at a list of the fraudulent charges and determine where they were made. At that point an officer can question witnesses and review security camera footage in an attempt to identify suspects. If a suspect isarrested he can be tried in a court of law. Felony Credit card fraud is considered a felony by the courts of the United States. As a result a person convicted of credit card fraud could face jail time (the exact amount of which depends on the extent of the crime). A felony conviction stays on a person’s record and can prevent the person from getting hired for a job. Having a felony on a criminal record will also take away a person’s eligibility in terms of running for public office. If a person who is not a natural- born citizen of the United States commits credit card51 fraud and is convicted of a felony the result could be being deported to their country of origin CONCLUSION 21STCentury banking has become wholly customer-driven &technology driven by challenges of competition, rising customer expectations & shrinking margins, banks have been using technology to reduce cost & enhance efficiency, productivity & customer convenienence. Technology intensive delivery channels like net banking, mobile banking, etc have created a win-win situation by extending great convenienence. &multiple options for customer. From educating customers about credit cards there is a need to educate them about the differentiating factors of the cards. Because visa and master card are advertising regularly and thereby increases awareness. The strategy should be to emphasize on its differentiating characteristics. They also need to identify potential customers and target those using mailers. As internet is growing at a fast rate the net users can be targeted by having interactive sites. The prospective company’s card personality could also be used in the home page to solve c ustomer queries in the ‘Best Possible Manner The Indian Plastic Money Journey Citibank and HSBC were the pioneers in the Indian credit card market in the 1980s. Over the next two decades, the number of players increased to more than ten in 2000. The credit card market registered a healthy annual growth rate of over 25% during 1987-2001†¦ While companies were putting in place various measures to address security issues, the debit card market was having a smooth run in India. After being introduced in the mid 1990s, debit cards acquired popularity  and user acceptance at a rapid pace. A major reason for the quick popularity gained by debit cards was the absence of the credit component that resulted in elimination of interest charges or monthly card bills†¦ Plastic Money: the Currency of Modern India Indian consumers have never had it so good. The soiled notes are definitely out. Carrying cash is no more `a pain in the neck’ as consumers are relying more on the `plastic card’ which gives them money on credit. Plastic money basically means debit cards and credit cards which is having a magnetic stripe, logo, signature of the cardholder made of plastic. Credit Cards have finally arrived in India. The card industry which is growing at the rate of 20% per annum is flooded with cards ranging from gold, silver, global, smart to secure†¦.the list is endless. From just two players in early 80s, the industry now houses over 10 major players vying for a major chunk of the card pie. Currently four major bishops are ruling the card empire—Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC and State Bank of India (SBI). The industry, which is catering to over 3.8 million card users, is expected to double by the fiscal 2003. According to a study conducted by State Bank of India, Citibank is the dominant player, having issued 1.5 million cards so far. Stanch art follows way behind with 0.67 million, while Hongkong Bank has 0.3 million credit card customers. Among the nationalized banks, SBI tops the list with 0.28 million cards, followed by Bank of Baroda at 0.22 million. OBJECTIVE OF STUDY Primary objectives †¢To know the perception of people towards plastic money Secondary objectives †¢To know the importance of plastic money in the daily life of consumers’ W.R.T creditand debit cards. †¢To study the benefits of debit card and credit cards. †¢To find out the market leader among the various banks/companies issuing credit anddebit cards †¢To know the problems faced by respondents using plastic money. †¢To study the satisfaction level of consumers towards plastic money. NEED AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY Need of the study It is rightly said the plastic money is need of hour. People are using these cards on a vastscale. But after considering the review of literature it is seen the whole payment process of processing these cards is not safe and customer are facing many problems relating to plasticmoney. That’s why study is focused on consumer perception regarding the plastic money. Need of the study is to get to know about the comparative analysis of plastic money. Thereare many ethical issues and challenges in the market of plastic money which is required to bestudied. This study is concerned with the Seven perks of plastic money Convenience,Budgeting technology, Reputation boosting, Corporate might,Cops and robbers, The float,Openness,to negotiations.